Munroe's introduction:
These are the most valuable sources for the crusade Of Frederic II. Each of the
contestants tells the story from his own standpoint. We have comparatively little
data for controlling their statements and determining their motives. See Rohricht:
Reitrage zur Geschichte der Kreuzzuge, Vol. I.

Frederic, by the grace of God, the august emperor of the Romans, king of Jerusalem
and Sicily, to his well-beloved friend Henry, king of the English, health and sincere
affection.

Let all rejoice and exult in the Lord, and let those who are correct in heart glorify
Him, who, to make known His power, does not make boast of horses and chariots, but has now
gained glory for Himself, in the scarcity of His soldiers, that all may know and
understand that He is glorious in His majesty, terrible in His magnificence, and
wonderful in His plans on the sons of men, changing seasons at will, and bringing the
hearts of different nations together; for in these few days, by a miracle rather than by
strength, that business has been brought to a conclusion, which for a length of time past
many chiefs and rulers of the world amongst the multitude of nations, have never been able
till now to accomplish by force, however great, nor by fear.

Not, therefore, to keep you in suspense by a long account, we wish to inform your
holiness, that we, firmly putting our trust in God, and
believing that Jesus Christ, His son, in whose service we have so devotedly exposed our
bodies and lives, would not abandon us in these unknown and distant countries, but would
at least give us wholesome advice and assistance for His honor, praise, and glory, boldly
in the name set forth from Acre on the fifteenth day of the month of November last past
and arrived safely at Joppa, intending to rebuild the castle at that place with proper
strength, that afterwards the approach to the holy city of Jerusalem might be not only
easier, hut also shorter and more safe for us as well as for all Christians. When,
therefore, we were in the confidence of our trust in God engaged at Joppa and super
intending the building of the castle and the cause of Christ as necessity required, and as
was our duty, and whilst all our pilgrims were busily engaged in these matters, several
messengers often passed to and fro between us and the sultan of Babylon; for he and
another sultan called Xaphat, his brother, were with a large army at the city of Gaza,
distant about one day's journey from us; in another direction in
the city of Sichen, which is commonly called Neapolis, and situated in the plains, the
sultan of Damascus, his nephew, was staying with an immense number of knights and soldiers
also about a day's journey from us and the Christians.

And whilst the treaty was in progress between the parties on either side of the
restoration of the Holy Land, at length Jesus Christ, the Son of God, beholding from on
high our devoted endurance and patient devotion to His cause, in His merciful compassion
of us, at length brought it about that the sultan of Babylon restored to us the holy city,
the place where the feet of Christ trod, [1] and where the true worshippers adore the Father
in spirit and in truths. But that we may inform you of the particulars of this surrender
each as they happened, be it known to you that not only is the body of the aforesaid city
restored to us, but also the whole of the country extending from thence to the near the
castle of Joppa, so that for the future pilgrims will have free passage and a safe return
to and from the sepulchre; provided, however, that the Saracens of that part of the country,
since they hold the temple in great veneration, may come there as often as they choose in
the character of pilgrims, to worship according to their custom, and that we shall
henceforth permit them to come, however, only as many as we may choose to allow, and
without arms, nor are they to dwell in the city, but outside, and as soon as they have
paid their devotions they are to depart.

Moreover, the city of Bethlehem is restored to us, and all the country between
Jerusalem and that city; as also the city of: Nazareth, and all the country between
Acre and that city; the whole of the district of Turon, which is very extensive, and
very advantageous to the Christians; the city of Sidon, too, is given up to us with
the whole plain and its appurtenances, which will be the more acceptable to the Christians
the more advantageous it has till now appeared to he to the Saracens, especially as there
is a good harbor there, and from there great quantities of arms and necessaries might be
carried to the city of Damascus, and often from Damascus to Babylon. And although
according to our treaty we are allowed to rebuild the city of Jerusalem in as good a
state as it has ever been, and also the castles of Joppa, Cesarea, Sidon, and that of
St. Mary of the Teutonic order, which the brothers of that order have begun to build
in the mountainous district of Acre, and which it has never been allowed the Christians
to do during any former truce; nevertheless the sultan is not allowed, till the end of
the truce between him and us, which is agreed on for ten years, to repair or rebuild any
fortresses or castles.

And so on Sunday, the eighteenth day of February last past, which is the day on which
Christ, the Son of God, rose from the dead, and which, in memory of His resurrection, is
solemnly cherished and kept holy by all Christians in general throughout the world, this
treaty of peace was confirmed by oath between us. Truly then on us and on all does that
day seem to have shone favorably, in which the angels sing in praise of God, "Glory to God
on high, and on earth peace, and good-will toward men." And in acknowledgment of such great
kindness and of such an honor, which, beyond our deserts and contrary to the opinion of
many, God has mercifully conferred on us, to the lasting renown of His compassion, and that
in His holy place we might personally offer to Him the burnt offering of our lips, be it
known to you that on the seventeenth day of the month of March of this second indiction,
we, in company with all the pilgrims who had with us faithfully followed Christ, the
Son of God, entered the holy city of Jerusalem, and after worshipping at the holy sepulchre,
we, as being a Catholic emperor, on the following day, wore the crown, which Almighty God
provided for us from the throne of His majesty, when of His especial grace, He exalted us
on high amongst the princes of the world; so that whilst we have supported the honor of
this high dignity, which belongs to us by right of sovereignty, it is more and more
evident to all that the band of the Lord hath done all this; and since His mercies are
over all His works, let the worshippers of the orthodox faith henceforth know and relate
it far and wide throughout the world, that He, who is blessed for ever, has visited and
redeemed His people, and has raised up the horn of salvation for us in the house of His
servant David.

And before we leave the city of Jerusalem, we have determined magnificently to rebuild
it, and its towers and Walls, and we intend so to arrange matters that, during our
absence, there shall be no less care and diligence need in the business, than if we
were present in person. In order that this our present letter may be full of exultation
throughout, and so a happy end correspond with its happy beginning, and rejoice your
royal mind, we wish it to be known to you our ally, that the said sultan is bound to
restore to us all those captives whom he did not, in accordance with the treaty made
between him and the Christians, deliver up at the time when he lost Damietta some time
since, and also the others who have been since taken.

Given at the holy city of Jerusalem, on the seventeenth day of the month of March, in the
year of our Lord, one thousand two hundred and twenty-nine.

Footnotes

[1] This is in Psalm 132. The English version is "Before thy footstool."
The translation in the letter is from the Vulgate and is due to the mistake of St. Jerome.